Nautically Inspired
September 17, 2012 § Leave a comment
Sophie Chandler, the mastermind behind Fabel jewellery is bubbly and very fashionable lady with abundance of design experience. After impressive career as lighting designer she switched to jewellery and has since produced a range of nautically inspired pieces that is currently a hot item on My Fashion Wish List. Most of the collection focuses on combination of gold plated charms and clasps with silk ropes that come in variety of colours: ivory, champagne, emerald, chocolate, wine and black to name but a few. I love how, thanks to unchanging central theme, most of the pieces could be mixed and matched together. Even with clashing colours the combination will give your outfit a finished well accessorised look. Another great thing – the collection does not have a target audience and could be worn just as easily by young fashionistas as by more experienced style queens. And while I have a few birthdays coming up, I can hardly think of a better present – just have to decide on the colour!
See the selection of my favourite pieces below, all available to purchase at www.fabeldesign.com. 
- Double Lariat Necklace, £58
- Nautilus Bracelet in Green, £48
- Nautilus Bracelet in Red, £48
- Locket Necklace, £155
- Locket Bracelet, £145
- Deco Cuff, £198
Classic Reinvention
September 12, 2012 § Leave a comment
Sometimes doing online research for My Fashion Wish List turns out completely counterproductive to the original aim of this blog of keeping my shopoholism under control. This is just one of these situations.
Meet my two favourite pieces from a capsule collection designed by Lulu Frost for J Crew. These tortoise beauties are made out of resin and marcasite with earrings priced at £65 and bracelet at £70. At first glance the colour combination seems so modern, yet take a closer look to discover antique feel of the style, which is exactly what makes these pieces special – timeless classic is completely reinvented. This trick is not new to the brand of Lulu Frost. Established in New York in 2004 by designer Lisa Salzer it always focused on giving modern spin to classic jewellery and thanks to J Crew you can get your hands on Lisa’s designs for less.
To see the entire collection go to www.jcrew.com. Here is a useful tip: despite being operated from US, shipping to UK is at flat £10 rate, but if you become an ‘insider’ on the website, the shipping will be free!
The Big New Jewellery Trend: Above Knuckle Rings
August 9, 2012 § 14 Comments
Jewellery. It has been around for 100,000 years (that is approximate age of the oldest jewellery ever found – beads made out of snail shells, thank goodness we moved on from those designs) and so you would think the humanity had enough time to experiment with different kinds of jewellery and different ways to wear it to the point that nothing surprised us anymore. Apparently not. There is a new craze sweeping the Western world and it includes the most traditional of rings worn around the less traditional area – above knuckle. So far little is known about the origin of the trend, but the scale of it is staggering – all the cool girls in town are already wearing it and if you are not, don’t worry I am right here to guide you through the process of acquiring some and joining in with the cool kids.
Option 1 – Look through your jewellery box and try to find any rings you wore as a child which you then outgrew, chances are they are a perfect fit for above knuckle spot. If there are no rings of such kind in your jewellery box do not despair, there are other options available.
Option 2 – If you, just like me, have fat sausage fingers go to the nearest store and purchase any ring of your liking (stay away from massive statement rings, though) in Small or Extra Small size, depending on the size of your sausages aka fat fingers.
Option 3 – If you have beautiful thin fingers, below are my favourite affordable rings specifically made for above knuckle wear. Choose your favourite, decide which number is the closest to it, look up the number on the list below and go to the related website to purchase it.
Done! Now go share the new trend with your friends and hope it will last, otherwise those rings will soon end up in the fad corner of the wardrobe next to leg warmers and harem pants.
1-2. Friendship Midi Ring Multi Pack, £7.69, from http://www.freepeople.com
3. Feather, Skull and Cross Rings, £8 each, from http://www.regalrose.co.uk
4. Bohemian Ring, £9, from http://www.regalrose.co.uk
5. Twisted Ring in Gold and Silver, £4 each, from http://www.loveheartsandcrosses.co.uk
6. Navajo Ring, £12, from http://www.wiredjewellery.co.uk
7.Wishbone Ring, £10, from http://www.wiredjewellery.co.uk
8-9. Peace and Heart Rings, £12 each, from http://www.wiredjewellery.co.uk
Creating Perfect Match
August 1, 2012 § Leave a comment
If you read my blog regularly, you might remember that in the beginning of June after attending London Jewellery Week event I made a series of post dedicated to the most memorable brands I came across there. Well, I have been keeping an eye on them ever since and today I am bringing you news about utterly cool Allumer jewellery.
Paul Smith and Allumer created a perfect match – literally! I fell in love with ‘Light up my life’ slogan-bearing necklaces when I first saw them (and mentioned them in a post here), and now there are four exclusive versions available at Paul Smith stores in London and Heathrow. You have a choice of silver with garnet or amethyst tip or 9kt gold vermeil with green tourmaline or moonstone, starting at £120. What I love the most – you can get a his and hers matches (his and hers jewellery is trending at the moment thanks to Kim and Kanye’s fashion-forward romance, so why not follow their lead?).
And apart from matches, from the same locations you can also purchase a Flicker of Light bracelet (£69) that comes with a silver plate engraved with XOXO – unisex and with ambiguous message this is a perfect present, yet I somehow feel many of you would want it all to yourself!
I am heading to Marylebone Paul Smith store today to check them out, will you?
Olympics Fashion: Team Karl
July 26, 2012 § Leave a comment
Two days ago on a lovely summer evening Karl Lagerfeld himself descended on London to launch his brand new Olympics inspired collection in Selfridges. Is Karl a massive sports fan then, you must wander? Apparently not. The legendary designers in the interview admitted to be inspired by the idea of Games, but is unlikely to tune in to watch the events himself blaming it on the unhuman look of the Olympians. Whether you agree or not (I definitely don’t, not only because my parents were both in professional sport but because we should never disrespect the amount of effort and commitment that goes into preparing for the Games) the main point of this blog post is not to discuss Olympics but the Games-inspired capsule collection.
So as I got to third floor of Selfridges the sight of shiny black installation that holds Karl’s designs caught my eye immediately. To enter the world of Karl I had to walk through a massive arch in the shape of Karl’s head – all in all let’s just say it is a very high impact space. But I am sure what you are interested in the most in are the pieces inside. Let’s start with my favourites, collars: gold, silver, bronze as well as lacy creations await you, no wonder they are back, being the fastest selling items of Karl’s SS12 collection on net-a-porter.com. With most of the clothing items the relation to Olympics is apparent – T shirts printed with gold medals (£95) and white biker jackets covered in droplets of gold (£345). But then there appear to be a few military-like pieces in camouflage print. To tell you the truth I can’t see the connection to Olympics but who am I to question THE Karl Lagerfeld. My most favourite item though – temporary tattoos depicting Olympic gold medal – love the attention to detail! The choice for a capsule collection is great – about 20 different items, and I was told more pieces are to arrive throughout the Games. So my advise, go see it all by yourself and enjoy the world of Karl.
In the meantime, if you are looking for S/S12 collection, there is plenty of choice online at newly launched www.karl.com store that ships to UK.
Victoria’s Secret
July 24, 2012 § Leave a comment
Congratulations ladies of UK, the day we have all been waiting for is finally here – the first ever Victoria’s Secret store just opened in London! 
Whenever I was asked about the essentials on my list of stateside shopping, the first thing that always popped into my head was Victoria’s Secret – beautiful, affordable and worn by the sexiest models of the world, I doubt any lingerie lovers could resist stopping by their stores for a pink bag full of goodies.
For the brand it was an easy move – we don’t just know it, but love it and have been asking when we can get our own piece of female heaven on this side of the pond for a while. That is why we were given not one but two flagship stores: the one that opened today is in Westfield Stratford (just by the Olympic park, hence the rush to cash in on thousands of tourists that would be in the area) and we are expecting the New Bond Street store to open its door later in August.
My only slight concern – prices. In US those are similar to our high street favourite La Senza, but it would be surprising if the brand did not take an opportunity to raise the bar in UK and enter the market at higher price point. The signs are there – flagship store location is in New Bond Street alongside boutiques like Mulberry, Jimmy Choo, Hermes and Burberry and not in any high street location. So ladies, there is a price to pay (literally) for having Vicky’s over here in London.
Despite all that I am brimming with excitement, especially for the New Bond Street store, which is so much closer to where I live (and probably less busy now that Olympics are about to kick off). Comment below if you already visited the newly opened shop and share your experiences!
Mawi Sample Sale
July 4, 2012 § Leave a comment
I have been admiring Mawi pieces for a while – luxurious yet contemporary this statement jewellery is perfect for striking and successful urban lady of our time. It would be surprising if you haven’t laid your eyes on Mawi jewellery before – they frequently appear in fashion magazines’ editorials and available to purchase from our favourite online stores (my-wardrobe.com, asos.com, net-a-porter.com and farfetch.com to name but a few) and at their flagship store in Shoreditch ( 11 Calvert Avenue). While usually the prices for the brand’s creations start at £250, tomorrow (Thursday 5th July) we have an amazing opportunity to shop them at massive discounts in their sample sale event held 9am to 8pm at 2 Nimrod Passage, London, N1 4BU (Dalston Junction). So hurry up scribble the info in your planner and I will see you all there!
Below are my picks from the current collection, no promises they will be there tomorrow!
- Pyramid Drop Earrings, £395
- Teardrop Crystal Bracelet, £297
- Dynasty Triple Cluster Necklace, £405
- Pyramid and Gemstone Ring, £275
- Pyramid and Gemstone Watch Strap Bracelet, £419
- Crystal Teardrop Earrings, £257
- Tube and Set Crystal Bangle, £324
Jewellery Week Special: Gina Stewart Cox
June 23, 2012 § Leave a comment
This is a blog post about a brand I discovered, and which I just had to share with you, during London Jewellery Week Treasure Exhibition Launch Event. To read my report on the event look it up on my twitter @fashionwishlist. 
If you read my blog on regular basis, you would know by now I am a sucker for bracelets especially if they are made for being worn in a combination with others. I have a few which I hardly ever take off, they are my constant companions that went with me through thick and thin and have been collected from wonderful places I visited as memorabilia you always have on you or came from my favourite jewellery designers. And now I am ready to add another one to the collection – one designed by Gina Stewart Cox.
Durable cord, precious metals and gemstones – the whole range relies on top quality material and that is exactly what I am always looking for since I don’t want to part with the bracelet just after a few months of wear. And even when the cord wears out (say in a year or more), you can send it back and get a new cord put in, which is just the right level of post-purchase service you want! And another great thing – all the bracelets are unisex! Having said that if you are buying one for your boyfriend, do stay away from pinks and purples as well as those with gemstones – while unisex, they are not all masculine! And believe it or not there is yet another thing I love about this jewellery brand! Gina’s company has been supporting Elephant Conservation Network that works in Thailand – always great to see successful companies giving back!
Above are my favourite pieces in the colours I picked (there are lots more variations on the website). And here are the prices:
- Five Twelve Silver Circle, £41
- Chain Poquito Long, £49
- Solo Swarovski Aquamarine Piece, £36.50
- Knot Silver,£42
- Pure Bold, £70
- Diamond Single Emerald, £250
Jewellery Week Special: Jenny Llewellyn
June 21, 2012 § 1 Comment
This is a blog post about a very exciting brand I came across during London Jewellery Week Treasure Exhibition Launch Event. To read my report on the event look it up on my twitter @fashionwishlist. 
At first look this jewellery appears to be alive – delicate and natural it requires a double take to grasp the idea behind the design. In fact this jewellery is made out of colourful and luminescent (yes, it glows in the dark!) silicon crafted into various shapes and set in precious metals. While there is a wide range of collections, my faivourite by far is Plume and Who Needs Pearls, items from which are presented on the pictures above. If you are looking for statement pieces that will draw attention and excite fashion lovers with unique approach to design – this is a brand for you!
Jenny Llewellyn is an East London designer that graduated from Middlesex University 5 years ago with a BA degree in Jewellery making and since then pursued designing and promoting her own jewellery brand. Her inspiration often comes from the deep sea live, which gives the pieces a very harmonious natural feel.
Who Needs Pearls collection, which was launched at the event I had a pleasure to attend, is really striking. At a fraction of the price of real pearls and of course with no ethical questions of pearl harvesting, this is a jewellery gem indeed. I could not help myself but feel like I want, indeed need each and every pearl-inspired item!
To see where you can purchase this jewellery visit their website or online shop carrying a limited range LoveDazzle.com.
The prices for the jewellery on the picture above is as follows: Blue/Green Plume necklace £800, Three Cup studs in gold £80, Blue/Green Cascade earrings in gold £230, Who Needs Pearls necklace £1200 and Pink/Orange Plume hoops £155.
Jewellery Week Special: Allumer
June 19, 2012 § 3 Comments
This blog post is about a fun jewellery brand I came across while visiting the launch of the Treasure Exhibition, a part of London Jewellery Week. To find out more about my experiences at the event check our my twitter account @fashionwishlist.
Indeed this brand is super fun. Creating wearable jewellery that you would not want to part with on daily basis, it’s cool, trendy and cheeky.
I adore gold, silver and rhodium match necklaces (top picture) that have a precious stone tips including Amethyst, Topaz and Pink Tourmaline. Symbolising light and life, these matches are perfect as meaningful presents and with varied stone colours could be chosen as ‘his and hers’ necklaces. Another favourite: gold Allumette necklaces (bottom left picture) that come with a small bell in various colours and look great if you have a few of them around your neck, but careful – make sure you won’t be annoyed by bell sounds! Apart from necklaces jewellery brand creates bracelets – simple gummy bracelets might at first remind you of the ones you wore back at school but a gold plate with diamond attached to the bracelet will make sure you know you are now all grown up! And on top of funky jewellery designs I love their packaging idea – every product comes in a little match box. ‘Light up someone’s life’ indeed!
As you can tell I quickly became a big fan of the Allumer, and I am not the only one! Various celebrities have been spotted sporting their designs – Kate Moss, Princess Beatrice, Daisy Lowe and pretty much the entire cast of Made in Chelsea! It is quite fascinating that such a successful brand was formed reacting to demand: founder-designer Nathasha Leith-Smith did not plan to start a jewellery brand when she made a single friendship bracelet for her best friend igniting the spark of word of mouth that drove the demand.
You can find more about the jewellery and purchase the pieces on their website (which does need some work but this is the only negative thing I can say regarding Allumer, and that’s the easiest one to correct). Prices are as follows: Match necklace £12o-138, Allumette necklace £24 and Gummy bracelets £120-150.
MY FASHION WISH LIST 